Massive HS2 order

Rather similar to aircraft orders with the pre-nationalized British Airways the Government itself has stepped forward and ordered the trains for HS2.

Costing £2.8bn the long-awaited contract was announced by Transport Minister Grant Shapps to a joint venture between Alstom of France and Hitachi of Japan.

After the first train rolls off the production line around 2027, it will undergo rigorous testing before carrying its first passengers between two and six years later.

Each train will be around 656ft long, with the option to couple two units together to create a 1,312ft train with up to 1,100 seats. They will be able to run on the new HS2 network as well as existing lines. The contract is for a a fleet of 54 high-speed units, with a top speed of 225mph.

The initial assembly and fit-out will be at Hitachi's plant in Newton Aycliffe, Durham, while the second stage and testing will be carried out at Alstom factories in Derby and Crewe.

www.hs2.org.uk

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